Faction Bottom of the Deep Blue Sea [THR / TJO]

[Colette]

It was just a matter of time before she'd take on something like this. Colette sat atop of a workbench in the armory and focused on her breathing. There was a weight pressing on her nerves, but this commitment still felt like the right thing for her to do.

In her hand she had a pad. On that pad was a list of tasks that needed to be performed. Too many for her to handle alone, but simple enough that just about anyone in the Order could take care of it. Things like gathering food stocks, hunting for textiles, and other things that were easy to just assume would always be there.

As was said: it wasn't rocket science but it was a valuable start.

She gave her draft one more look before she sent it out to every member of the Jedi Order.

From: quartermaster@order
To: All Members
Subject: Help on Manaan

-----------------------------------------​

Good Morning,

The following request arrived on my desk last night. Any and all help with these tasks would be greatly appreciated. As usual I would prefer teams of at least two for the sake of both safety and expedience.

The task is as follows:

A contact on Manaan has offered a sizable reward over some problems with the local firaxan sharks. Originally for money, but we've managed to renegotiate for a few crateloads of kolto which could prove invaluable in the future. All that they have asked is that the local wildlife — including the sharks — are treated with the respect they deserve and that as little harm comes to them as possible.

While usually keen enough to stay away from local Selkath, something seems to have changed recently. A few of our more imaginative members are speculating on Sith poison, but I think this might be something simpler than that.

Animals are usually simple minded, change can scare them. Check their nests for disturbances. My gut says that something — or most likely someone — has spooked them. I can't attend personally, so I trust your intuition on this one.

Needless to say we want to avoid unnecessary bloodshed. If not because of the loss of life then at least because you will be swimming with sharks. Sharks and blood don't go together. I'll let your imagination figure out what could go wrong here.

Also, keep in mind that this is Black Sun territory. Try not to raise too much awareness of your presence just yet.

— Colette

TL;DR and for the sake of OOC clarity, the following tasks are being proposed:

1. We need a small group to take charge of investigating what is going on with the Firaxan Sharks. Avoid disturbing the local wildlife and avoid unnecessary bloodshed.
2. Colette has speculated that there is most likely someone who is disturbing them. Find out who.
3. Document and provide intelligence if there appears to be a Sith disturbance. (You may utilize an NPC or ask someone (Maybe a Sith?) to assist with this if you'd like to explore it)
4. Complete the mission and provide a follow up with Knight Colette to provide a debrief and deliver the Kolto supplies.
5. While this is a faction story, you are free to (and encouraged to) make it your own. This is a small part of a set of planned threads about getting the Jedi Order to run as smoothly as possible again. Future stories will be impacted by your choices, so get creative! You hold the reins with your fellow faction members, the world of Manaan is your oyster.

 

[Phillip Slate]

Tags:

"How does this thing work?"

Phillip muttered to himself, as he flipped through the instruction manual for the ship. It was his attempt at trying to take the initiative but...he realistically had no way to know how to drive...or was it pilot one of these things. He had at least knew how to rely on the diving equipment for when he went into the waves, but for now he had to get this boat out there.

There were a few possibilities in his mind for what could have caused the Firaxen to act up. Whilst others were thinking poison, he was thinking it was possible there was more kolto farming going on, kept off the record. With the Black Sun running this planet near enough, it wouldn't be a surprise to him if there was plenty of medical supplies being sold on the black market. Kolto might not be as effective as bacta, but in times of war and suffering, it would still be able to get a pretty credit for it.

Though that adds the question, if it was some kind of criminal activity, how well protected was it going to be? There was the possibility they had their own facility down there, kept secret from the officials. If it was a facility, there was a chance there could be plenty of criminals under there...but at the same time, maybe they assumed the sharks and waves would be enough protection of their own. That was more likely in his mind, it cost less credits that way.

For now, as he prepared for the others, Phillip sat himself off to the edge of the boat, taking out his sketchbook and just started to admire the view. It was his own version of meditation. A way to keep his mind focused, even whilst waiting.

 

[Elian Abrantes]

@Open
​

Elian laid underneath the communication terminal. "Blast it, when's the last time these things have been repaired" One of the Quarren technicians was assisting him trying to make sure these communications arrays and consoles were working in good order. Hearing some words spoken from his partner and he shrugged his shoulders. "Well I'm about the smartest you got right now. I may be a kid, but I'm still smarter than some Jedi, especially that Isla Reingard girl. Do you know her, pray you never meet her." Elian chuckled as he scooted himself up reaching for the replacement wires. "She's probably upset all the time because she dosn't have any friends."

Elian brow furrowed a bit, before he chuckled lightly. "Then again, neither do I, they are all dead." Elian had come to use humor to cover up his losses, which was in part making things better, but also making things so much worse. So he was here, keeping himself busy, making sure these Jedi had the reliable communication the needed for this task they were on.

He finally sat up again. "Alright, come on, on to the next one."

 

[Khenvaaba]

Elian Abrantes

The air on Manaan was a soup of salt and humidity. It was the absolute worst environment for a Wookiee's grooming. He looked less like a noble Jedi Master and more like a very large, very annoyed rug.

He adjusted the strap of the heavy ryyk blade across his back. The briefing had been clear: "as little harm as possible" and "avoid unnecessary bloodshed." It was the kind of directive that usually came from people who had not spent a decades hunting Sith across the stars.

To Khenvaaba, a Firaxan shark was a predator. You either respected it from a distance or you dealt with it decisively. Trying to reason with a hungry fish seemed like a very human sort of hobby.

He watched the others, the younger ones and the hopeful ones, preparing their diving gear.

"Alright, come on, on to the next one."

"What are you doing, you strange little man?" Khenvaaba asked. His faithful floating protocol droid translated.

"Can I help with your task?"

The wookie shot his protocol droid an angry side long glance.

 

[Elian Abrantes]

Khenvaaba
​

"Well," Elian's voice echoed lightly against the metal housing, "that's one of the kinder assessments I've received this year."

He scooted himself out from under the console, dark hair slightly disheveled, a smudge of grease streaked across his jaw. He squinted up at the towering Wookiee and spread his hands in exaggerated surrender.

"I prefer 'eccentric mechanical prodigy,' but I understand that doesn't translate well."

There was no offense in him. Only easy humor. If anything, he seemed amused.

Elian pushed himself to his feet and brushed off his tunic before gesturing toward the open comm array behind him.

"I'm repairing your communications backbone," he explained, tone shifting into something a little more focused, though still light. "These arrays are suffering from salt saturation in the relay housings. Corrosion's eating through the contact points, and half the signal boosters are operating at maybe sixty percent efficiency."

He tapped the side of the console with the handle of his tool.

"If you all go diving after a very large, very hungry sea monster and something goes wrong, the last thing you want is your distress call sounding like static and whale noises."

He glanced back at the open wiring and then up again at Khenvaaba.

"So yes," Elian said brightly, stepping aside and holding out a small stabilizing bracket. "Of course you can help."

He pointed toward the exposed panel.

"If you hold this right here and apply steady pressure, I can realign the transmitter core without it slipping out of calibration."

A small grin tugged at his lips. "And please try not to accidentally crush it. I know you could fold this entire station in half if you wanted to. I am choosing to trust you."

There was a playful glint in his eyes as he ducked back down, reaching for a cluster of replacement wires. "Strange little man," he muttered with a soft chuckle. "I'll take it. Better strange than boring."

 

[Aiden Porte]

Phillip Slate Bettany Sal-Soren Ensy Kaelyn Serev Pari Sylune Sven Halestorm

​

Aiden stepped onto the boat with the kind of balance that came from years of adjusting to unstable footing, whether it was a starship deck under fire or uneven stone beneath a training yard. The vessel shifted slightly under his weight, the water answering with a gentle slap against the hull.

He spotted Phillip near the edge, sketchbook in hand, posture relaxed but mind clearly elsewhere.

Aiden's mouth curved into a faint smile.

"Hey Phillip," he called, brushing a bit of sea spray from his sleeve as he approached. "Oh, I know. You are getting tired of seeing me."

There was a teasing warmth in his tone, the kind meant to coax at least a reluctant grin. He tilted his head slightly, as if reconsidering his delivery.

"If not, I can workshop the joke. I have a few worse ones in reserve."

He came to stand beside him, gaze drifting briefly over the open sketchbook before lifting toward the horizon. The ocean stretched vast and bright, sunlight dancing across its surface. Beneath that beauty, though, the Force stirred in uneasy currents. Subtle. Restless.

"Good to see you," Aiden said more sincerely.

His attention shifted toward the controls of the boat, then back to Phillip with a raised brow that held no judgment, only curiosity.

"Were you able to get the boat figured out?"

Aiden rested a hand lightly against the railing, feeling the rhythm of the water through the metal. Whatever waited beneath those waves, whether disturbed wildlife or something far more deliberate, he could feel it brushing against the edges of perception.

(Sorry for the random tag, if you could join that would be awesome! If not no worries! Don't worry about posting speed, just drop in when you can.)​

 

[Bettany Sal-Soren]

Location: on the boat
Objective: Aiden Porte Phillip Slate Colette

"If not, I can workshop the joke. I have a few worse ones in reserve."

"Believe me, he really does." Bettany joked as she walked past the pair toward on of the sail pulleys. Aiden was seeing a different side to Bettany today, rich girls liked boats, what could she say. She didn't have one of her own, but she had been on her family boat growing up and Phillip liked to host parties on his, and she would often find herself out on the deck bored of the conversation with all the old men.

When she had first got on she had even gone so far as to roll down her body suit to catch some sun in her swimmers, but it had been pointed out that this was still a mission so she was fully zipped up now.

"You should be able to steer now" she called to Phillip Slate standing back up from the winch. She walked over to her master.

"What are you thinking? I can sense, something, maybe fear, from down there. But its very vague right now." she leaned her hip against the rail and looked out to sea.​

 

[Phillip Slate]

Tags: Aiden Porte Bettany Sal-Soren Colette

Phillip fought the urge to roll his eyes at Aiden's joke. In the past he may have laughed at it, but not anymore. There was at least a slight smirk on his face however, as he checked over his sketchbook, glancing up from the page and back out towards the open sea, before closing the sketchbook and storing it away into his satchel to continue later. Right now there was the actual job to focus on. At the very least however, he wasn't letting himself get fully engrossed in the work.

"I've got the...engine, or whatever it is started up. I'm artist, not a sailor. I think I put the destination right into the autopilot, but might be better for someone more experienced to doublecheck."

He wasn't arrogant enough to believe that he had gotten everything right. That was the one thing Aiden definitely would know as his Master as the Padawan leaned against the edge of the boat, his eyes staring into the murky depths of the ocean below them. The sharks that must have been down there. The potential fear flowing through them.

"I think it might be some kind of Kolto Smuggling going down there. It's disturbing the sharks. Maybe one of the smugglers has crashed their transport. Landed directly into the Firaxen breeding grounds, or something. It's all theoretical of course."

 

[Pari Sylune]

Location: Aboard the Boat

Pari had never been on a boat before, but already she could tell it was something she enjoyed. The gentle waves and the sea air agreed with her in very pleasing ways. The young padawan was also excited to learn more about the ocean life. This mission seemed perfect, or at least as perfect as it could be when the poor sharks were suffering. She hoped they would be able to help the animals.

She had been down below in the galley taking a tour of the boat when she heard the others boarding. The small girl made her way to the deck, smiling pleasantly at everyone and enjoying the feeling of the sun on her tan skin.

“That is an interesting theory.”

She had never met these Jedi but her sincerity and gentleness was true.


Aiden Porte Phillip Slate Bettany Sal-Soren

 

[Khenvaaba]

"So yes," Elian said brightly, stepping aside and holding out a small stabilizing bracket. "Of course you can help."

He pointed toward the exposed panel.

"If you hold this right here and apply steady pressure, I can realign the transmitter core without it slipping out of calibration."

Khenvaaba looked down at the small stabilizing bracket held out to him, then at his own massive hand.

The request was almost comical. Asking a Wookiee who had spent a decade hunting Sith to perform delicate internal calibration was like asking a rancor to thread a needle.

"I have folded thicker plates than this," he rumbled, the Shyriiwook vibrating through the deck plates. His tone was not threatening, merely a statement of fact.

"You speak Shyriiwook then?" he asked, though he offered no apology.

He reached out, his movements surprisingly deliberate and slow. He took the bracket between two fingers, applying the steady pressure Elian had requested.

It was a test of patience as much as it was a mechanical task.

 

[Kinley Pryse]

You've been hit by... you've been struck by...

Kinley Pryse has a rancor skin rug on her ship. The rancor isn't dead, it's just too afraid to move​

Kinley Pryse had faced down pirates, Hutts, and one very vindictive customs officer with a fondness for stun batons. None of that compared to the betrayal currently happening between her inner ear and the endless, smug horizon of Manaan's ocean.

She leaned hard over the railing of the boat, one hand gripping cold durasteel, the other pressed to her stomach as if sheer force of will might convince it to behave. It did not. The sea rolled beneath her like it knew exactly what it was doing, each swell a personal insult.

This was Flint's idea. Of course it was. Go check on the kolto operation, Kinley. Just a quick status check. He had somehow neglected to mention the part where the crew had been drilling straight into the ocean floor, rattling the ecosystem like a sabacc table in a bar fight. The local firaxan sharks were not pleased, the Selkath were furious, and Kinley, proud owner of very solid space legs, was discovering that boats were a crime against sentient beings.

She straightened just long enough to glare out over the water, eyes narrowed against the glare and the queasy spin in her head. Somewhere beneath them, drills were chewing into the seabed, kolto lines were being siphoned off the books, and very large, very angry sharks were probably circling with murder on their minds. Fantastic. Truly inspired leadership, Flint.

Kinley wiped her mouth with the back of her glove, drew in a slow breath, and forced a crooked grin back onto her face. Seasick or not, this was still her mess to evaluate. She just hoped the sharks got to complain to Flint personally.

"Next time," she growled at the horizon, "I'm charging extra for boats."


Aiden Porte Phillip Slate Khenvaaba Bettany Sal-Soren

A Smooth Criminal

 

[Aiden Porte]

Phillip Slate Bettany Sal-Soren Pari Sylune Kinley Pryse​

Aiden smiled faintly, looking between them as the boat rocked beneath their feet.

"Phillip, I think your theory makes a lot of sense," he said, warm and genuine. "Kolto smuggling would explain a lot, especially if someone disturbed the breeding grounds. You are seeing the bigger picture, and that matters."

He glanced to Pari and gave her an encouraging nod and smile. "Glad to have you with us Pari."

Then he looked to Bettany, his expression soft but steady. "What you are sensing lines up with what I feel too. Fear is there, but it is scattered. You are not imagining it."

Aiden rested a hand on the rail, calm and centered. "I trust all three of you. We have good instincts on this boat. Let us follow them and see where they lead. Bettany, you want to help Phillip take us out on location. Keep a good eye on the readings, see where it takes us."

 

[Bettany Sal-Soren]

Location: on the boat
Objective:
Tag: Phillip Slate Pari Sylune Aiden Porte Kinley Pryse

Bettany nodded and walked up to Philip on the wheel. She know understood why Aiden had not sprung for a dedicated skipper, the cost would have been barely anything, but the skipper would not have been able to feel their way to the target like a jedi could.

"Alight then, let me take the wheel for a bit, lets see if I can Jedi as well as I can sail for a bit?" she put her hands on the wheel and closed her eyes, there was nothing out here to collide with so she was safe from wrecking the hull at least. She could feel the ebb and flow of the living force. She could feel waves of life as shoals of fish moved like single consciousnesses.

"Hold on everyone." the spun the wheel and the boat leaned to starboard as it made a sharp turn before straightening up again. Bettany hit a lever on the floor that opened the halyard and let the fulll breeze into the sail. They began to pick up speed and spray caught her hair. "Lets hope im going the right way, what's the plan when we get there?"

 

[Phillip Slate]

Tags: Aiden Porte Bettany Sal-Soren Pari Sylune

Oh. He had just asked for someone to check that he had put the autopilot in correctly. Not to just...Phillip sighed to himself, shaking his head. It didn't matter he supposed. If anything it seemed more like he shouldn't have came out onto this mission. He didn't seem to be needed at this point. The Padawan just headed over towards the side of the ship, and sat against the edge, staring off into the ocean depths.

Phillip just rested his chin atop of his knuckles, watching his reflection in the foamy depths. It seemed like they were going away from where he had set up the autopilot, towards the Firaxen breeding grounds, so he had no clue where they were being taken through the Force. Not that it mattered. He wasn't taking lead on this anymore. Phillip was just along for the ride.

 

[Pari Sylune]

"Glad to have you with us Pari."

"Thank you Knight Porte. I am excited for the opportunity to help the sharks."

She noticed that Bettany took command of the ship, and Phillip went to sit by himself. He seemed down, and she wanted to comfort him, but was not sure if he was merely preparing for the mission with some quiet meditation. She did not want to impose.

Instead, she gazed over the side of the boat to the waters below, her mind drifting. How would they know what to look for?


Phillip Slate Aiden Porte Bettany Sal-Soren

 

[Kinley Pryse]

You've been hit by... you've been struck by...

Kinley Pryse doesn't leave a mess. She leaves a story.​

Kinley spat the last of the sea out of her mouth and straightened, rolling her shoulders like she could physically bully her balance back into place. The ocean disagreed, pitching the boat just enough to make her stomach file a formal protest. She staggered back from the railing with what she hoped looked like swagger and not survival instinct, boots clanking against the deck. One hand smoothed down her jacket. The other checked the blaster at her hip out of habit. Business posture. Even if the business currently involved not dying of motion.

The rigs rose out of the water ahead like metal parasites clinging to the planet's skin. Massive drill pylons churned the sea into froth, floodlights stabbing down into the depths. Cargo skiffs zipped between platforms hauling sealed kolto canisters, unmarked, off-ledger, and very profitable.

A low WHUMM-THRUMM vibrated through the hull as another deep-core drill engaged.

Kinley winced. "Subtle. Real subtle."

Kinley grabbed a pair of macrobinoculars from a crate and scanned the platforms. Crew moving. Security posted. Cranes swinging cargo. No fires. No explosions. Minimal screaming.

Promising start.



Aiden Porte Bettany Sal-Soren Phillip Slate Khenvaaba

A Smooth Criminal

 

[Aiden Porte]

Angels: Pari Sylune Phillip Slate Bettany Sal-Soren
Devil: Kinley Pryse
Brought to you by Jedi Knight Aiden Porte #hasnoideawhathesdoing

​

"First thing we do, once we get there. You guys dive in, and make sure everything is good before I jump in. Sacrifices have to be made." Aiden said with as serious tone as he could muster before shaking his head with a small chuckle. "Totally kidding my friends."

"We scout the area, if anything feels off we need to adjust as necessary. Feel things out before we act."

Just then Aiden caught the sight in the distance of a massive drilling structure in the distance. "Perhaps something like that?"

 

[Pari Sylune]

Pari's eyes widened at Knight Porte's words, her heart skipping, until his grin gave it away.

"Oh, very funny," she exhaled, a sheepish smile tugging at her lips. "You really had me there."

Her amusement faded as she followed his gaze. Out across the water, machinery groaned, and sparks flashed, industrial rigs chewing into the surface with relentless precision. The sight made her brow knit.

"What are they doing over there?"

She stepped to the rail and lifted the macrobinoculars from their tidy hook, bringing the distant platform into sharp focus. Workers moved like ants around the drilling arm, until one figure came into view.

Brown hair. Weathered jacket. And a ridiculous cowboy hat she'd never forget.


Pari frowned. "I know her. Not her name, but… I've seen her before." Her voice tightened with memory. "She runs with pirates. Tried to steal relief supplies bound for Tapani once, back when I was traveling with another Padawan."

Lowering the binoculars, she handed them to Aiden, unease settling in her chest.

"What are pirates doing here?"


Aiden Porte